A CITY MP today claimed that a Birmingham suburb, blighted by social problems, is missing out on regeneration cash.

Kingstanding is being over-looked despite suffering with a series of social problems from high teenage pregnancy rates and unemployment, according to local MP Sion Simon.

The Labour MP called a meeting of community leaders to discuss ways of generating investment for the area.

Local health service providers, the police, housing associations and Birmingham City Council's Director of Regeneration Clive Dutton were all present.

They raised concerns that Kingstanding, particularly the northern part, is not covered by a joined up strategy for regeneration.

He said that while work is starting on a #1.8 billion project to transform north Solihull, despite suffering some of the worse inequalities in the city, Kingstanding seems to be largely forgotten.

He said: "The area is host to some very good initiatives to try and tackle some of its problems. But, there is no overall strategy, and we need to ensure that someone takes an overview.

"If we are to tackle some of the problems we have in the area, such as high teenage pregnancy rates and chronic health problems, we need the people of Kingstanding to have access to decent jobs, decent health care and decent housing.

"One issue impacts on another, so a piecemeal approach is simply not acceptable," he added.

He said that the meeting was the first of a series to secure regeneration status and funding for the area.

"This meeting was a good start to the process of thinking about what needs to be done to regenerate the area, and the council will be happy to join with other organisations to look at what we can do together over the short medium and long term," he said.